Some cars are projects. Some are passions. And then there are the ones that carry an entire lifetime of meaning.
For my dad, a 1965/66 Mustang Fastback wasn’t just a classic car — it was the teenage dream. The poster-on-the-wall, late-night-imagination, V8-rumbling-through-the-suburbs kind of dream. The kind that never really fades, even when adulthood takes over.
The Unexpected Opportunity
Many years ago, while I was building an AC Cobra replica for myself, I mentioned to a parts salesman at a local importer that a ’65/66 Mustang was high on my future project list. Just one of those casual, “one day” conversations.
Then fate stepped in.
The very next Monday, a gentleman from Midrand walked into that same shop urgently looking to sell his unfinished 1966 Mustang project. The importer immediately connected the dots and contacted me. Within a short time, the deal was done.
I bought the car — and gifted it to my dad for his 50th birthday.
At the time, the Mustang wore British Racing Green paint. It was partially assembled and missing numerous components. It wasn’t complete, polished, or even close to finished. But it was real. And it was his.
His plan was simple: restore it to a mostly stock configuration and finally live out that teenage dream.
But life has a way of rearranging priorities.
Twenty Years on Pause
The restoration stalled. Responsibilities grew. Time became scarce. The Mustang sat, waiting — as dreams sometimes do.
More than 20 years later, everything changed.
My dad was diagnosed with cancer.
Suddenly, time was no longer theoretical. It was tangible. Measured. Urgent.
And I knew the car couldn’t wait any longer.
From Restoration to Reinvention
I took over the project with one clear objective: finish the Mustang while he still had the strength and health to enjoy driving it.
What began as a mostly stock restoration quickly evolved into something far more ambitious. Once the build gathered momentum, it became clear this wasn’t just about recreating the past — it was about building something worthy of the moment.
And so, the Fastback transformed into a serious restomod.
Powertrain: Built to Breathe
At its heart sits a 331 stroker engine built with SCAT internals and Mahle pistons. It’s topped with Edelbrock ECNC185 cylinder heads and an Edelbrock Victor Junior intake manifold — a combination that ensures the engine breathes as aggressively as it looks.
Fuel delivery is handled by a Holley Sniper 2 fuel injection system, bringing modern reliability to classic muscle. Exhaust flow is managed by JBA headers, custom downpipes, and Spintech mufflers, producing a note that’s unmistakably American — deep, purposeful, and alive.
Power is routed through a modified AODE transmission, controlled by a US Shift ECU and paired with a Lokar electronic sport shifter. It delivers crisp, controlled shifts while keeping the driving experience engaging.
Suspension & Braking: Modern Muscle Control
This Mustang doesn’t just go — it handles.
Up front, a Gateway Performance McPherson strut setup with rack-and-pinion power steering modernizes the driving feel dramatically. At the rear, a three-link setup with a Watts linkage keeps everything planted, anchored by a Strange Engineering 9-inch centre section.
Braking duties are handled by Baer brakes at all four corners, giving the car the stopping power to match its performance.
It rides on 18x8-inch American Racing Draft wheels, wrapped in Goodyear tyres — 265/35/18 at the rear and 235/40/18 up front — giving the Fastback a stance that blends aggression with refinement.
Interior: Classic Feel, Modern Comfort
Inside, the car balances nostalgia with comfort.
TMI upholstery gives the cabin a premium finish, while a Classic Auto Air climate control system ensures year-round drivability. New Relic power windows add convenience without compromising the classic aesthetic.
The audio system blends old-school style with modern clarity: a Retrosound Detroit radio feeds an Audison amplifier and Infinity speakers, delivering clean, powerful sound without disrupting the vintage vibe.
The Moment That Mattered Most
The Mustang was finally handed back to my dad as a fully running, finished vehicle on his 78th birthday.
Not his 50th. His 78th.
More than two decades after the dream was first placed in his hands.
Seeing him behind the wheel — healthy enough to drive it, strong enough to enjoy it — made every late night, every decision, and every deviation from “stock” worth it.
This car is no longer just a 1966 Mustang Fastback. It’s a symbol of unfinished dreams revisited. Of time reclaimed. Of a father and son sharing something that outlived decades.
Some builds are measured in horsepower. This one was measured in years — and in moments that truly mattered.
